JBP Sunlight and Temps for Late Winter

[hemmy]

How beneficial is full sunlight for JBP when the winter highs get above 50F and the nights are not freezing? I’ve avoided the shuffle in late winter and not moved them to more light until the hard freeze danger is over. But how much more energy and strength could they be getting during these warmer spells (day highs 50-70F and nights at or anove freezing) that last a week to 10 days at a time?

Also, are the roots more sensitive to freezing in the late winter as their substrate temps get back into the 40F range?

My JBP overwinter in cold frames some with partial morning sun and another with full shade against the north sides of the house. In Zone 6, NE KS we have 2 weeks ahead of at or above freezing lows with highs from 40-70F before another sub-20s lows at the end of Feb. If we get back to average in early Feb., we would be just above freezing for the lows.

For some JBP in refinement that are not getting repotted this year and in the deepest shade, I was thinking of moving them to full sun on a wood patio on the ground with northern wind block. I’d make a cinder block wall and mulch the pots still to temper any freezing. If the temps get below 20F, I’d likely chicken out and put them back in the closable cold frame. But with everything nested so tight it is a real pain to dig them out and put them back.

30 day “forecast”



Pines in deep shade cold frame


North looking, south facing full sun alternate site


Thanks!

 

[Dav4]

My thought is that if you can't keep your trees below 40 F for more than a few days, they're going to become metabolically active, and based on your long range forecast, I'd want all my evergreens in as much sun as you can give them. When the night temps threaten to fall into the upper 20's, I'd put the pots on the ground, and into the cold frame if it were to get colder than that.